Anyone seen this ? TBW causes death
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 2,398
Likes: 34
From: Newport news, Virginia
My condolences to the man and hope his wife has a speedy recovery and tries to get back on the horse.
But I also have to wonder, not to kick a man when he is down but I too always keep a finger or two on the clutch and front brake levers, like most of you it stems from my old dirt bike riding days. Plus one good thing about the ignition switch on a bike is that when you shut it off when it is rolling down the road you don't loose brake or steering control like you do in a car.
It just leaves me wondering...........................
But I also have to wonder, not to kick a man when he is down but I too always keep a finger or two on the clutch and front brake levers, like most of you it stems from my old dirt bike riding days. Plus one good thing about the ignition switch on a bike is that when you shut it off when it is rolling down the road you don't loose brake or steering control like you do in a car.
It just leaves me wondering...........................
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 2,923
Likes: 13
From: Asscrackistan
Bastards! Hope the family goes after HD AND the stealer! I think HD needs an attitude adjustment, right in their pocket book! I have a issue they want to ignore, my bike shuts down for no reason, no fun on the interstate at 70, in heavy traffic! I've informed my wife, should something happen to me because of this, I want her to go after HD and the stealer like a Pit-Bull! Hope HD gets whats commin to em!
Road Captain
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 621
Likes: 1
From: Windy City,Il
My condolences to the family of the fellow biker.TBW has been around for a long time its not a HD invention,but you never know,anything can happen,here we might never know what really happened,might be TBW and than again might not be,speedy recovery to his wife and may God watch over his family and the rest of us.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 2,424
Likes: 0
From: Hoboken, New Jersey
I feel for the guy, but come on......something goes wrong while your riding.....you either pull in the clutch or hit the kill switch.....or both.
I dont believe for a second that it was the ETC, and if the was a wide spread problem with the HD ETC.....we here at this forum would have heard many many reports by now. Not a few isolated incidents.
I dont believe for a second that it was the ETC, and if the was a wide spread problem with the HD ETC.....we here at this forum would have heard many many reports by now. Not a few isolated incidents.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 2,923
Likes: 13
From: Asscrackistan
I feel for the guy, but come on......something goes wrong while your riding.....you either pull in the clutch or hit the kill switch.....or both.
I don't believe for a second that it was the ETC, and if the was a wide spread problem with the HD ETC.....we here at this forum would have heard many many reports by now. Not a few isolated incidents.
I don't believe for a second that it was the ETC, and if the was a wide spread problem with the HD ETC.....we here at this forum would have heard many many reports by now. Not a few isolated incidents.
Ya know, when your riding along and something happens out of the blue, ya go, what the FU--, then it's to late as it happens so fast. How do you know it wasn't the ETC? As for the statement "we here at this forum would have heard many many reports by now. Not a few isolated incidents." This is the same BS as with MANY people with the same problem I have with engine shut down, that happens out of no where! Usually on the highway! The stealer and mfg, aren't going to acknowledge the problem, as it implies liability! They don't want to be responsible! In the MoCo eyes, it just doesn't happen and if you take it in and they can't replicate the problem, it doesn't exist!! They also will tell you, we have never seen this and yours is the only one that does it! Bullsh--!
Novice
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
Ask any computer expert about unexplained random events. They happen and they can be fatal. My brother has a pacemaker/defibrilator. About 1/1000 fire once a year for no apparent reason. Not a defect unless you are that one. Electronic products interact with the environment we live in. Static discharge, stray EMF pulses, age and cosmic radiation all can trigger a computer to do something not in its programming.
Add more computers and more events occur, eventually someone dies. Not a manufacturing problem at all. **** happens. I am staying with my 07 Street Glide to avoid having one more computer in the chain of command. As I get more and more paranoid I may just ride the 04 carbed Heritage in the garage. You pay your money and you take your chances. Best of luck to all of you.
Add more computers and more events occur, eventually someone dies. Not a manufacturing problem at all. **** happens. I am staying with my 07 Street Glide to avoid having one more computer in the chain of command. As I get more and more paranoid I may just ride the 04 carbed Heritage in the garage. You pay your money and you take your chances. Best of luck to all of you.
Intermediate
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 45
Likes: 0
my condolances to you and your family
i have had a prob with my 08 roadking that i posted a few days ago,but mine only happens in hot weather and i only notice it when i come to a stop it tends to idle very high i actually twisted the throttle back and held it there soon as i released it it went back to high idle again which would probably suggest it is being told to do this by the comp. when i rang my dealer he said it was to do with high temp conditions and it will sort itself out the more miles i do.thanks for your post and i think i will be calling my dealer and ask for an explanation in writingif anyone else has had the same prob as me i would like to know.
i have had a prob with my 08 roadking that i posted a few days ago,but mine only happens in hot weather and i only notice it when i come to a stop it tends to idle very high i actually twisted the throttle back and held it there soon as i released it it went back to high idle again which would probably suggest it is being told to do this by the comp. when i rang my dealer he said it was to do with high temp conditions and it will sort itself out the more miles i do.thanks for your post and i think i will be calling my dealer and ask for an explanation in writingif anyone else has had the same prob as me i would like to know.
"IT WILL SORT ITSELF OUT THE MORE MILES i DO" Damn, All by itself?
"It will get better with more miles"
"It's normal"
Wish I had a dollar every time I,ve been given these lines.
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 8,201
Likes: 3,089
From: NW AR
MadDuck is right. Random stuff happens. Even UNIX boxes crash every once in a while.
I'll mention something else to think about: Among other things, I'm a genuine computer expert (mostly databases these days). I also have a bit of DIY EFI experience. I have three megasquirted vehicles. I upload, download and datalog my vehicles all the time. The upload process communicates between the PC and the EFI computer over a serial cable. If _something happens_, it is very possible to accidentally overwrite one part of non-volitile memory when you are trying to write a different part. Causes could be anything from **** happens, stray pulse, bug in the software on the ECU, bug in the software on the PC sending the instructions, surge/spike in the 12V line, low voltage, high voltage, or more. This doesn't happen very often, fortunately. But when it does, it could take anything from a total re-flash to just resending all the variables. If something like this does happen, then the ECU computer could do absolutely anything from hanging up, turning on the injectors and leaving them on, or if you have FBW, cranking open the throttle and leaving it there. This could happen immediately or only after you drive it for a while and some bizzare combination of circumstances happen.
Now, I know that the stock fuel maps on these new EFI bikes suck, or everyone wouldn't be changing them. So, what I would like to know is of all the people who have reported the WOT issue on a FBW throttle bike, how many never had anyone touch their fuel maps? How many had someone remap things for a new air cleaner, pipes, "stage 1" whatever? Who did the remap, what software were they using?
I'll mention something else to think about: Among other things, I'm a genuine computer expert (mostly databases these days). I also have a bit of DIY EFI experience. I have three megasquirted vehicles. I upload, download and datalog my vehicles all the time. The upload process communicates between the PC and the EFI computer over a serial cable. If _something happens_, it is very possible to accidentally overwrite one part of non-volitile memory when you are trying to write a different part. Causes could be anything from **** happens, stray pulse, bug in the software on the ECU, bug in the software on the PC sending the instructions, surge/spike in the 12V line, low voltage, high voltage, or more. This doesn't happen very often, fortunately. But when it does, it could take anything from a total re-flash to just resending all the variables. If something like this does happen, then the ECU computer could do absolutely anything from hanging up, turning on the injectors and leaving them on, or if you have FBW, cranking open the throttle and leaving it there. This could happen immediately or only after you drive it for a while and some bizzare combination of circumstances happen.
Now, I know that the stock fuel maps on these new EFI bikes suck, or everyone wouldn't be changing them. So, what I would like to know is of all the people who have reported the WOT issue on a FBW throttle bike, how many never had anyone touch their fuel maps? How many had someone remap things for a new air cleaner, pipes, "stage 1" whatever? Who did the remap, what software were they using?
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 2,923
Likes: 13
From: Asscrackistan
There is some inherent flaws in the system, but what gripes my ***, is the stealers who are arrogant and condescending to you and your situation. As of today, I'm done with the loser stealer I have been dealing with. The hour drive south is my next stop. Funny how those a$$hole stealer tries to make you feel guilty to return a part that is a possible cause of a problem. Then to make a statement like, I can't run it thru the system and I'll have to to buy the part for you. Whatever, works for me! Most of time you're on your own because they will not start throwing parts at your ride to track the situation down.. Moral of story?? Get your wallet out and start chasing a problem, because under warranty, they won't fix it. I would make a wager tho-- I'll bet if it's out of warranty, they'll find the problem then, for a cost!! Oh yeah, they put down forums as they all have misleading information! What those idiots don't recognise is, this is where reality and the answers are!!! Remember, information is knowledge and power!
Last edited by BlockHead96; Oct 16, 2008 at 12:49 PM.